"And Good Evening Ladies and Gentlemen and welcome to Top of the Pops !"
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LCm4Li1arUs
Bloody hell, anyone out there remember Cozy Powell etc the first time around ? Oo wee, guys and gals, it's exactly 40 YEARS since this pre Xmas Top of the Pops was first broadcast on Thursday 20th December 1973 at 7.20 pm but RECORDED the previous day at BBC TVC (BBC Televison Centre) in Wood Lane Shepherds Bush.
That's here for the easily confused or those suffering from forgotten, remembered, events that never happened syndrome !
A very interesting top 4 in the chart rundown this week. Slade had just beaten Wizard to the first place with their FIRST outing of that song ... you know the one I speak of !! The New Seekers occupy the No 3 position and look who's sandwiched in between them !
I hope that you all watch this episode or at least a part of it tonight between 7.20 and 7.55 pm local time. It will be 2.20 pm in NYC, 11.20 am in Los Angeles, 3.20 am in China, 11.20 pm in Moscow and 3.20 am in Melborne Australia (making them a day ahead of us !) so I guess we won't get too many folks in China joining in but one never knows and there's always catch up !
Jimmy Savile OBE was more than likely paid the same amount of money in December 1973 as he had been the previous year. The BBC did not appear to go in for regular pay increases judging by the information gathered earlier this year including this !
Sorry, it's not very clear but the amount is £157.50 - oh, and I think I can make out Studio 8 in there too would it not !!
http://jimcannotfixthis.blogspot.co.uk/2013/07/footsteps-across-london-pt3.html?view=flipcard
Back to the show and my memories. You know I feel as though I've spent every Christmas of my life watching the same two songs performed by the same two Midland bands !
Anyone who can work out what Jimmy says in his link following Wizard's 'I wish it could be Xmas everyday' please leave a comment at the end of the show. Sadly, you no longer have the option of sending your answer on a postcard to BBC Televison Centre, Wood Lane, Shepherds Bush as it closed earlier this year, just before I started my on foot, investigations into the claims made against Jimmy.
Once, Clifford T Ward finishes his very un christmassy 'Scullery', it's time for the big one - NO 1 indeed ! The next scene reads like a few lines from some of Jimmy's interviews and writings. He often tried to explain the reason why the young girls were drawn to him, or not as the case maybe. They were not interested in him, he was merely a means to access their pop idols such as Slade and, as soon as they appear on stage, Jimmy's company is off like the clappers !
The stage they are on is not that big - here's a view of what I assume is the same location earlier in the year when Slade performed 'cum on feel the noize' (girls grab the boys !)
http://www.davekempandslade.com/top-of-the-pops.html
After the teenyboppers have been chased off the stage, Jimmy closes the show saying "Oh Goodness gracious ..... we say, we see you next week for another edition of TOP OF THE POPS" and Leo Sayer plays us out !
Makes you wonder why you still pay to watch this crap !
ANYWAYS GUYS AND GALS IT'S A VERY MERRY XMAS TO YOU ALL - WHEREVER AND WHOEVER YOU ARE !